What we do

Advocacy

The Observatory works to promote the rights of the child and young people in conflict with the law by participating in international events and forums in its capacity as a leading institution in the field, as demonstrated by its Consultative Status with the United Nations ECOSOC, UNESCO and the Council of Europe, and its status as an Expert NGO at the European Forum on the Rights of the Child for the European Union.

In these forums, the IJJO seeks to place the issue of juvenile justice on the international political agenda and incorporate it into programmes and strategies favouring effectiveness and innovation, by producing reports such as:

“A voice for the future of juvenile justice in Asia-Pacific: Introduction to the Asia Pacific Council for juvenile justice and leading juvenile justice reforms in the region”

“The evaluation of the implementation of international standards in national juvenile justice systems”

“Measures of deprivation of liberty for young offenders: How to enrich international standards in juvenile justice and promote alternatives to detention?”

“The social reintegration of young offenders as a key against recidivism”.

Technical Cooperation

Given the demand for guidance in processes of public policy-making and technical assistance for governments and institutions, the IJJO offers its experience and knowledge in the processes of modernising juvenile justice systems, mainly in Europe, Asia and Latin America.

Tools and mechanisms used and developed by the Observatory include:

Assessments, studies and other analytical work prior to formulating policies and programmes.

Advisory and support services for formulating public policies and legislation.

Thematic meetings between experts and production of documents for political positioning.

Training and professional skills development.

Through bilateral collaboration agreements with ministries and public and private administrations, the IJJO provides technical assistance on policies, programmes and projects linked to the cycle of juvenile violence, from policies on social prevention of violence to the administration of justice for adolescents and young adults, and all related aspects. Collaboration agreements have been signed with: the Ministry of Justice of Chile, the Ministry of Justice of France, the University of Miskolc in Hungary, the United Nations Latin American Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (ILANUD), Fundación Ortega y Gasset, Ilustre Colegio de Abogados de Cádiz, the Inter-American Children’s Institute (IIN), the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection of the Ministry of Justice of Thailand, the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights of Peru, the National Secretariat for Children, Youth and Family of Argentina (SENAF) and the Conference of Ministers of Justice of Ibero-American Countries (COMJIB).

In addition, the Observatory provides technical assistance for regional and sub-regional financing programmes promoted by the European Union, international cooperation agencies and multilateral organisations whose objective is to foster an exchange of knowledge and experiences between national and regional representatives.

Among the more recent collaboration agreements and regional financing programmes in which the IJJO has taken part, it is important to highlight the EUROsociAL II Programme. The EUROsociAL II Programme is a technical cooperation initiative of the European Commission, the main aim of which is to contribute to increasing social cohesion in Latin America. The programme is a continuation of the first EUROsociAL phase (2004-2009) and seeks to support national public policies aimed at improving levels of social cohesion while also strengthening the institutions and entities that implement them. EUROsociAL II works in five core areas that reflect the interests and priorities of Latin American governments. The IJJO participates in the programme as an operational partner in matters of citizen security and justice.